Residents in District 10, which runs from campus to north Baton Rouge, gathered at Dufrocq Elementary School on Tuesday to discuss ways to stop crime.
The meeting, called “Take Back District 10,” focused on various ways to take control of the increasing crime in the area.
Tara Wicker, District 10 councilwoman, began the meeting by reading two e-mails she received about issues dealing with crime and fear of reporting crime.
“Tonight we are planning to make sure the community comes together to get real solutions,” Wicker said.
Wicker said the meeting was a rallying cry for change.
The meeting was broken up into six sessions, which included a pastors’ roundtable, health and safety through neighborhood design, crime signals and symbols, crime policies, youth roundtable and community partners.
Each session had a scribe to take notes so everyone’s ideas can be made into a community report.
Wicker said the sessions provide roles that individuals can take on to stop crime.
Student Government External Affairs Committee Chairman David Jones and his committee led the youth roundtable session.
Jones said his session was about youth responsibility and leadership to prevent crime.
The elementary and middle school children at the youth roundtable said they see crime in the form of fighting, drugs and illegal gambling.
One boy said he sees people in his neighborhood “shooting stuff in their arms.”
The adults at the session urged the children to report the crime to someone they trust.
“Apathy is our worst enemy,” Jones said.
Jones told the children that being proactive meant they had to actively pursue something.
Elizabeth Connor, finance sophomore, attended the health and safety session. She said the session focused on what individuals can do to prevent crimes, like leaving a light on.
Christine Sparrow, District 10 resident, said she hopes the meeting is a beginning to the end of what she called madness.
Sparrow said residents in her area experience murders, robberies and drugs, and would like to see an increase in police patrolling.
“We need more interaction between the community and law enforcement,” Sparrow said.
Gregory Patin, head of uniform patrol for the Baton Rouge Police Department, said residents need to be self aware and report crimes to the police.
In response to fear of the repercussions of reporting crime, Patin said the police have a system that allows people to report crimes anonymously.
Wicker said people from all over Baton Rouge and not only District 10 residents were present at the meeting. She said people from all different backgrounds were coming together for the first time to discuss their experiences.
Wicker said she was looking forward to reading the community report and putting the ideas into action.
Joan Smith, District 10 resident, said she hopes the meeting provides strategies to be used to influence the community.
Attendees of the meeting received a “Take Back District 10,” T-shirt, snacks and refreshments.
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Contact Celeste Ansley at [email protected]